Is Pau Gasol finally ready to be the Fantasy stud you drafted him to be? Our Chris Towers gives his best bets for the new scoring period in his Week 21 edition of Start 'Em and Sit 'Em.

Fantasy owners have been waiting for months for
Pau Gasol
to come back from his torn plantar fascia and starting
making up for what has been a very disappointing season. It looks like
there is a great chance for that to happen in Week 21 (March 18-24), as
Gasol has been able to participate in shootaround in recent days and
could make his debut as early as Monday against the Suns.

Gasol was a major disappointment even before his injury, largely because
most Fantasy owners who had him on their rosters had invested a draft
pick in the early rounds expecting him to continue his run as one of the
most dependable Fantasy options around. His numbers were still
incredibly solid for most NBA players, as he was putting up 13.4 points
and 8.0 rebounds per game, with 1.3 blocks and 3.6 assists per game as
well.

Given his actual production, independent of expectations, Gasol still
looks like someone who can provide a boost down the stretch for those
Fantasy owners who were either patient enough to stash him or quick
enough to grab him off waivers when his prognosis began improving. Gasol
looks likely to be worth getting in your lineup very soon, but I am not
sure Week 21 will be that time, even if he does return.

The Lakers play just twice in Week 21, and it looks like Gasol's
expected Monday return might have to be pushed back a few days, after he
complained of soreness Saturday after working out. If the Lakers opt to
not have Gasol play Monday, his next opportunity to return to the floor
would not come until Friday, leaving him with just one chance to put up
numbers.

I highly recommend snagging Gasol in the eight percent of CBSports.com
Fantasy leagues he is still available, but I have to slap him with a
rare "Sit of the Week" tag for the coming scoring period. He could
provide you with three weeks of production to end the season, but you
will want to continue being patient and keep him out of the starting
lineup this week.

Guards

Start 'Em

Mo Williams
, Jazz (NYK, @HOU, @SAS, @DAL): Admittedly, this
is a bit of a speculative addition to the list, as Williams has been
downright dreadful since returning from a thumb injury. In five games
heading into Saturday's tilt with the Grizzlies' league-best defense,
Williams was averaging just 8.6 points per game, with only four more
assists than turnovers overall. It was not the softest landing for
Williams, who faced four above average defensive teams in his first six
games, so I think Week 21 provides a good opportunity for him to bounce
back. The Jazz face a much simpler task this week, as two of the
leagues' five worst scoring defenses pop up this week. Williams was
playing very well prior to the injury, and I think the matchups make him
worth getting active this week.

Ray Allen
, Heat (@BOS, @CLE, DET, CHA): Allen has been up
and down this season for the Heat, which was to be expected in his first
season as a true role player. Allen has been doing well recently,
scoring in double figures in 13 of the last 16 games. Allen should be
able to keep rolling in Week 21, against a slate of teams that he has
had success against this season. Allen is averaging 13.6 points per game
in seven games against his upcoming foes so far, a good sign for him
moving forward. Allen could be particularly useful against his former
mates in Boston Monday, as he has 40 points in two games, while
averaging 34.5 minutes per game.

Sleeper Alert:
Eric Maynor
, Trail
Blazers @PHI, @MIL, @CHI, @ATL, @OKC): In 37 games with the Thunder
earlier in the season, Maynor totaled just 104 points and 73 assists. He
has been much better since the trade, averaging 8.6 points and 4.2
assists per game total, while playing a much larger role. Maynor is
still a borderline Fantasy option overall, but the Blazers play five
times this week, including a pair of back to backs. The Blazers are
severely lacking in depth, which might lead to them leaning on Maynor
more off the bench with so many games in so few nights. I like Maynor as
a fill in option this week, especially with the

Sit 'Em

Jarrett Jack
, Warriors (@NOR, @SAS, WAS): Jack has fallen
off recently, averaging 11.3 points on 11.7 field goal attempts per game
over the last 10 games. He has just six more assists than turnovers, as
he has gone from surprisingly effective to pretty dreadful in fairly
short order. Warriors coach Mark
Jackson gave Jack a vote of confidence Saturday when asked
whether Jack might see a reduced role moving forward but Fantasy owners
should be less confident at this point. Jack is suffering through his
worst month since November, and is now much more of a borderline Fantasy
option. With just three games on the schedule, I would not rely on Jack
at this point in the season.

Mike Dunleavy
, Bucks (POR, @ATL, @IND, ATL): For the most
part, Dunleavy has been able to hold on to his role since the team's
backcourt-crowding trade deadline deal for J.J. Redick. Unfortunately,
he has been slipping a bit recently, posting consecutive scoreless games
Wednesday and Friday of last week, with his minutes shrinking in each
game. The Bucks open with a solid matchup against the Blazers'
vulnerable defense, but face a trio of above-average defensive teams
after that. Dunleavy might end up as the odd man out if the Bucks begin
to shorten their rotation for the postseason, and he looks like a bad
play this week.

Bust Alert:
Brandon Knight
, Pistons
(BKN, @MIA, @CHA): The last week has not been kind to Knight, who
suffered an ankle injury after being the victim of a devastating dunk by
DeAndre Jordan
. Knight was averaging 15.0 points per game in 10
appearances prior to the injury, and really appeared to be taking well
to the off guard role. At this point, it looks like he might end up
missing Monday's game against the Nets, and his status for the rest of
the week is not at all guaranteed, so Fantasy owners might consider him
a risky option.

Forwards

Start 'Em

Martell Webster
, Wizards (@CHA, @PHX, @LAL, @GSW): I picked
Webster for this column before his 34-point outburst against the Suns
Saturday, but that performance certainly helps bolster my case. Webster
has been able to take advantage of injuries in the Wizards backcourt
rotation, first to
Bradley Beal
and
then
Trevor Ariza
, and has been playing
a huge role recently. Webster is averaging 21.8 points per game over the
last five games, and has one of the best schedules of the season on the
way. The best defense the Wizards face in Week 21 is Phoenix, who ranks
just 21st in the league in points allowed. With four games on the way
and Webster playing at he top of his game, get him active.

Metta World Peace
, Lakers (@PHX, WAS): I felt pretty
confident that World Peace would see a downturn in his Fantasy value in
the second half of the season, but he has so far proven me wrong. World
Peace's shot has returned after an extended cold streak, and he is now
shooting 43.4 percent in the month of March. That is not great, but it
has led to 14.3 points per game in eight games so far thanks to the
plentiful opportunities the Lakers' offense provides him. The Lakers
only play twice this week, but they may be forced to rely on him more
than normal with
Kobe Bryant
nursing an
ankle injury, so MWP might not be a bad play.

Sleeper Alert:
Patrick Patterson
,
Kings (LAC, MIN, @DEN, PHI): The trade to Sacramento really hurt
Patterson's Fantasy value, as he has dropped from 11.6 points with the
Rockets to just 7.3 per game since the trade. Still, his role has slowly
been increasing recently, as he is averaging 20.2 minutes per game over
the last five. Patterson's skill set has not changed since joining the
Kings, so it should be no surprise that he has bumped his scoring to 9.4
per game in this new role. With
DeMarcus Cousins
possible dealing with an injury that could limit him, Patterson should
continue to see opportunities to score.

Sit 'Em

Luis Scola
, Suns (LAL, WAS, MIN, BKN): I had Scola as my
Start of the Week a week ago, as I expected the veteran to see a larger
role in light of a slew of injuries to the Suns' frontcourt.
Unfortunately for my reputation, that ended up being an unmitigated
disaster, as Scola appears to have been robbed of his basketball
abilities recently. Scola has been in a steepening decline, and the Suns
appear to have moves on from using him as a primary option. Scola was
benched this week and has not played more than 14 minutes in any of the
team's last three games. He has a decent schedule in Week 21, but at
this point, I think Scola might be done as a useful Fantasy option.

Andrei Kirilenko
, Timberwolves (@MEM, @SAC, @PHX, CHI): The
Timberwolves have just nine healthy players right now, which is causing
some problems for the guys who are trying to get healthy. Kirilenko
appears to be close to returning to the floor, but there appears to be a
snag; the Timberwolves do not appear comfortable getting Kirilenko into
a game without a practice, and the Wolves just don't have enough bodies
to run a practice with their current schedule. The team plays back to
back games Sunday and Monday, before having two days off. Kirilenko
might get a chance to practice Wednesday, but that might not be enough
to convince the team that he is ready to get back on the floor following
a nine-game absence with a calf injury. He is too risky to put in your
lineup at the beginning of the week.

Bust Alert:
Maurice Harkless
, Magic
(@IND, @NYK, OKC): Harkless' development has hit some bumps in the
road, as
Tobias Harris
has become the
youngster du jour in Orlando recently. Harkless is still averaging 10.0
points per game in the month of March, but he has also topped out at 12
points in his last five games. Harkless looks like a solid long-term
piece, but the touches are going to Harris, not Harkless right now. With
all three of his Week 21 opponents ranking above the league average in
scoring defense, Harkless could disappoint the Fantasy owners who have
come to rely on him.

Centers

Start 'Em

Jermaine O'Neal
, Suns (LAL, WAS, MIN, BKN): The only thing
that has stopped O'Neal's return to prominence was a four-game absence
due to family issues. O'Neal returned this week and picked up right
where he left off, earning a starting role at Scola's expense to boot.
O'Neal has scored in double figures in three straight games, averaging
14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in that span. The Suns open the
week with a vulnerable Lakers defense that O'Neal is averaging 12.0
points and 9.0 rebounds per game against this season. O'Neal should
probably be in your starting line with four games on the way.

Sleeper Alert: Greg Stiemsma (@MEM, @SAC, @PHX, CHI): Stiemsma
has been little more than a defensive specialist in his season-plus in
the league, but the Timberwolves' injuries have forced him into a larger
role recently. And, surprisingly, he has answered the call well,
reaching double figures in scoring in three of the last five games.
Stiemsma is averaging 30.2 minutes per game in that stretch, but is also
shooting 54.8 percent and averaging 9.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8
blocks per game as well. Stiemsma is taking advantage of his chances,
and looks like a worthwhile injury replacement in the shallow center
position.

Sit 'Em

Robin Lopez
, Hornets (GSW, BOS, MEM): Lopez remains the
very definition of a borderline starting Fantasy option, as he ranks
right near the end of the No. 2 centers list. Given the right matchup
(like last Tuesday's game against the slow-footed Nets), he can be a
useful Fantasy option. Unfortunately, he sandwiched a 15-point,
eight-rebound performance last week between two six-point efforts. Lopez
faces two of the tougher defensive frontcourts in the league in Week 21,
after a warmup outing against the soft Warriors. I would say this is one
of those weeks where Lopez will not be the guy you want in your lineup.

Bust Alert:
DeMarcus Cousins
, Kings
(LAC, MIN, @DEN, PHI): We expected Cousins to take a step forward
this season, and on the surface he has. His scoring average is down a
bit from last season, but he has been more efficient overall, including
keeping his foul rate at an all-time low. Unfortunately, Cousins remains
as unreliable as ever, falling to score in double figures in three of
six games in the month of March, while also posting back to back
20-point games prior to suffering a thigh injury. The thigh kept him out
of the team's last game Wednesday, and it could continue to bother him.
Sitting Cousins could be risky given his immense talent and ability to
go off for a huge line at any point, but there are plenty of question
marks around him right now.

Though he can be found covering three different sports depending on the time of year, there is one unifying theme in how Chris Towers approaches sports; "Where's the evidence?" It doesn't matter how outlandish...
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